How to Use Reishi Mushroom for Sleep

Reishi Mushroom for Sleep

There are many types of mushrooms found all around the world, and several of them have huge health benefits.

Some of these mushrooms are medicinal, and they form a significant part of the diet in regions where their potential benefits are known. If you are familiar with the medicinal mushrooms, there’s a good chance you’ve come across the reishi mushroom at some point. 

Now is the perfect opportunity to learn about one of the most beneficial medicinal mushrooms if you aren’t already aware of it.

There are several ways you can explore and enjoy the full health benefits of mushrooms. Some mushrooms can be eaten fresh, while others need to be cooked and adequately processed. 

Mushrooms can be made into powder, and certain elements can be extracted and processed into supplements with a specific use. 

What is Reishi Mushroom?

The reishi mushroom is one of the most popular medicinal varieties that has been around for hundreds of years. It is native to China, and has been a key ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for a long time.

The popularity of this mushroom is a result of its immense health benefit and nutritional strength. Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma Lucidum) is distinct from other types of mushrooms with its reddish-brown outlook. 

This type of mushroom is found naturally flourishing in the humid, coastal parts of China. They mostly grow on decaying stumps of oak, chestnut, and other broad-leafed trees. 

You can also tell this type of mushroom apart from other mushrooms because of its bitter taste. This taste is primarily due to the presence of the triterpenoids, which are active aromatic compounds. 

The molecules include triterpenoids, polysaccharides, and peptidoglycan. Each of these compounds has specific health benefits, and they play crucial roles in the overall potency of the mushroom. 

Triterpenoids, for example, form one of the mushroom’s essential components and are mainly responsible for its immense health benefits.

Several compounds within the reishi mushroom make it a perfect ingredient for improving overall health. 

Since its discovery about a century ago by the natives of China, it has repeatedly proven to be of immense health benefits. It is nicknamed the “mushroom of immortality” for that reason.

Reishi mushrooms were first used to support healthy aging and memory after their discovery. But as time went on, several research and findings revealed that it is useful for so much more.

In TCM, this mushroom is regarded as a Shen tonic. If you wonder what Shen is, it is a term used among Chinese, referring to emotional balance and consciousness. 

According to TCM, a balanced Shen means good mood, sleep, and excellent cognitive performance. 

Sleep Benefits of Reishi Mushroom

Sleep is an essential part of human function. It is crucial for normal bodily function and staying healthy. 

A standard recommendation is that the average human needs 7 to 9 hours of sleep per day to stay healthy. This calculation implies that the average person will spend two-third of their lives sleeping. 

Interesting, right? 

If we spend that much time sleeping, it becomes imperative to get high quality sleep. Although there are several synthetic and artificial supplements for enhancing sleep, natural options seem to be the best. 

Reishi mushrooms offer one of the best natural solutions for strengthening and inducing sleep. 

They promote better sleep without altering the natural cycle. The mushroom works for sleep by supporting the healthy functioning of the body’s endocrine system. 

The body’s endocrine-regulated hormones like cortisol and melatonin are essential in regulating sleep and rest. The reishi mushroom is regarded as nervine, a type of herb that tones and calms the nervous system. 

The actions of this herb promote relaxation and healthy sleep. 

Traditional herbalists, particularly Japanese and Chinese, recommend reishi mushrooms for the treatment of insomnia. 

Evidence shows that these mushrooms can be useful for preliminary sleep stages by boosting initial suppression of motor activity and relaxation.   

Other Benefits of Reishi Mushroom

The benefits of reishi mushrooms are not limited to helping you with sound sleep alone. They are highly sought after because of their long history of medicinal use and recent research discoveries.

Some of the impressive health benefits include:

1. Reishi Mushroom Helps to Boost Immune System 

One of the most notable benefits of the reishi mushroom is its ability to enhance your immune system’s functionality. It acts by boosting white blood cells which enhances their ability to fight infection and disease. 

You can use it regularly to improve your overall health or mix it in with herbs to treat sick individuals. 

Similarly, certain researches show that reishi mushroom can alter the inflammation pathways of white blood cells. Another study also indicates that the reishi mushroom can increase white blood cells that actively defend the body against infection and diseases. 

The immune-boosting functionality of this type of mushroom works for both adults and children, male and female. 

2. Helps to Fight Fatigue and Depression 

Reishi mushrooms have various components that can help the body relieve stress, fight fatigue, and alleviate symptoms associated with depression. These benefits are derived by taking the mushroom as a supplement for about eight weeks. 

Reishi mushroom also improves the overall quality of life by eliminating aches, headaches, irritability, dizziness, and pains. 

3. Helps Lung Functions 

Reishi mushrooms have proven to be effective in enhancing the functioning of the lungs. 

Recent studies report the effectiveness of this mushroom in treating various lung abnormalities like bronchitis and asthma. 

At this point you may be wondering, how does reishi mushroom affect the lungs? 

Well, it has an active role in protecting and enhancing lung function as a result of its anti-inflammatory properties. 

For instance, asthma results from the inflammation of airways, and bronchitis occurs due to inflammation in the bronchial tubes. 

4. Skin Care Potential 

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TMC) has some of the oldest knowledge about the reishi mushroom’s potential, establishes its use as an anti-aging tonic. This anti-aging effect also includes cosmetic functionalities on the skin. 

Extracts from reishi mushrooms are included in various skincare products because of their polysaccharide contents. These polysaccharide contents help with the regulation of gene expression in aging skin cells. 

It also protects fibroblast (an essential component of the skin) from UVB-induced skin damage by acting as an antioxidant. 

5. Circulatory Support 

Reishi mushrooms can boost the functionality of the heart. 

They can mitigate the risk of heart disease by lowering blood pressure and improving blood circulation. 

Reishi mushroom’s immense contribution to the heart and overall nervous system’s functionality can be credited to the presence of three principal compounds, which are steroids, polysaccharides, and triterpenes.  

What Are The Risks of Taking Reishi Mushrooms? 

After reading through reishi mushroom’s numerous benefits, it is normal to ask if it will have any side effects. 

There are always two sides to everything, even the best of substances. 

Reishi mushroom has specific health limitations, particularly when it is taken without proper regulations.

Some of the risks associated with taking the mushroom include:

1. Allergic Reaction

Taking reishi mushrooms in moderation is ideal, but consuming them consistently for more than six months can lead to certain allergic reactions. 

These allergic reactions are linked to dryness in various parts of the body, such as the throat, mouth, and nasal passage. 

Other side effects of this mushroom linked with allergy include headaches, itchiness, rash, nosebleed, stomach upset, bloody stools, and dizziness. 

However, these conditions are mild, and you might not need any elaborate medications to eliminate these side effects. These conditions will reverse once you discontinue taking reishi mushrooms. 

2. Low Blood Pressure

Excessive reishi mushroom consumption can put you at the risk of reduced blood pressure. 

This condition is more prevalent in individuals taking medications or therapy to raise blood pressure, diabetes, and immune system disorder. 

3. Bleeding Disorders

Reishi mushrooms will increase the chances of excessive bleeding in individuals with underlying blood clotting complications. 

This side effect is prevalent in individuals suffering from thrombocytopenia (a blood clotting disorder). 

It is also advisable for anyone going for surgery to avoid taking reishi mushroom at least two weeks before and after the sugary. 

4. Negative Interactions

Reishi mushroom have specific interactions with the body. 

While most of these interactions are positive, they might negatively affect individuals with certain complications. 

For instance, reishi mushroom will increase bleeding in individuals with low platelet count. 

Other notable interactions of the mushroom to avoid include: 

• Avoid taking reishi mushrooms with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs. Examples of these drugs are; Aspirin, warfarin, heparin, and Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). If at all you have to take them together, make sure you consult your doctor. 
• Avoid taking reishi mushrooms during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Although there are no scientific certifications for this yet, it is better to play it safe to protect both the mother and the baby. 

Related: Best Mushroom Supplements

Forms of Consuming Reishi Mushroom

As mentioned earlier, reishi mushrooms are widely cultivated in the humid part of Asia, particularly in China. They can be sold as food, just like most other vegetables. 

All you need to do is prepare them fresh and consume them as part of your regular meal. 

However, most individuals have a problem consuming it by cooking because reishi mushroom is tough and bitter. As such, it’s a good idea to use the mushroom in other ways so that it can be easily consumed for medicinal purposes. 

Therefore, it is dried, extracted, and processed into three forms: powder, capsule, and liquid. 

Powder

Powder reishi mushroom is an extract of the fungus. 

The fresh plant is dried and processed into a consumable powder. 

This powder can be ingested in many forms, including mixing it with suitable liquids or taking it orally with water. You can also mix it with coffee, smoothies, and other drinks.

Capsule

The capsule of the reishi mushroom is in the form of regular solid medications. 

The essential compounds are extracted from the mushroom and processed into tablets of definite concentration. 

The advantage of this form of ingestion is that you know the amount of reishi mushroom you consume in a precise dosage. 

Likewise, you can ascertain all the ingredients of the capsule in their proper concentrations. 

Liquid

The liquid form of the reishi mushroom is another preferred way of taking this medicinal plant. Most people prefer this form because of its fast action. 

It is taken sublingually (through the sublingual gland and vein beneath the tongue), which takes the compound directly into the bloodstream. 

However, some individuals still find it hard to take reishi mushrooms in liquid form because of their bitter taste retention.

Dosage and Administration of Reishi Mushroom

Like every other compound suitable for clinical consumption, dosage and administration are very important. 

Overdosing on reishi mushrooms might do more harm than good. It might not even provide you with the positive effect that you’re seeking. 

It is best to take reishi mushroom at the recommended dosage to get the best results. However, the dosage of this compound varies depending on certain factors.

These factors include:

Form

The form of reishi mushroom you are taking can determine how much you need to consume for effective action. 

The manufacturer usually indicates each compound’s concentration per milligram for the processed form like liquid, capsule, and powder. 

If you take it in the freshly prepared form, you might not need to take too much of it. 

Age

The age of individuals consuming reishi mushrooms will affect their dosage. 

Of course, you cannot expect children and adults of various age brackets to consume the same amount of medicine or compounds. 

A suitable dose for adults might be an overdose for kids. 

Body Weight

The body weight of an individual is an essential consideration for the intake of medicine. 

You might need to consult professional medical advice on the suitable Reshi mushroom dosage that will match your body weight. 

Overall Health Conditions

Do not make the mistake of thinking every individual can consume the same amount of reishi mushrooms, even if they are of the same age and have the same bodyweight. 

Reishi mushrooms can provoke different reactions to different health conditions. For instance, they might provide an undesirable response in people with low blood pressure and thrombocytopenia. 

Pregnant women and nursing mothers are also advised to stay away from this mushroom because its reaction has not been proven scientifically. 

On average, the typical oral dose of reishi mushroom is;

• 1 to 1.5 grams of reishi powder 
• 1.5 to 9 grams of crude dried reishi mushroom
• 1 milliliter of reishi solution (tincture) 

It is imperative to seek medical advice from professionals on reishi mushroom’s appropriate consumption. Keep in mind that even natural products are not necessarily safe, and dosage is essential. 

Similarly, the length of consumption is as important as the dosage itself. Excess intake of reishi mushrooms without proper regulation will harm your body system. 

When you take the mushroom extracts orally, it is safe to use them appropriately for about a year. 

Reishi mushroom powder form might be unsafe if it is taken extensively for more than a month. 

You can regulate your reishi mushroom consumption properly by taking the correct dosage and taking a break in between your time of ingestion. 

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Frequently Asked Questions About Reishi Mushroom

How does Reishi mushroom make you feel? 

Most individuals that use reishi mushroom report that it gives a relaxed and soothing feeling. 

It can also help you get better sleep, ease tiredness, and boost your nervous system’s functioning. 

Reishi mushroom is also efficient for dealing with stress and anxiety. 

Does Reishi mushroom increase testosterone?

As much as the reishi mushroom is beneficial, it does not work in favor of testosterone. 

This mushroom has one of the strongest actions in inhibiting the actions of testosterone. 

A study reveals that the reishi mushroom reduces the level of 5-alpha-reductase, preventing testosterone’s conversion to more potent DHT. 

Is Reishi good for the liver? 

Reishi mushroom appears to improve liver functions, particularly in those with Hepatitis B in their body. 

Nevertheless, the intake needs to be regulated because an overdose of powdered reishi mushroom can harm the liver. 

Does Reishi mushroom have antiviral properties? 

Reishi mushroom is considered to be more of herbs than just food. It has various medicinal benefits because of its antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. 

So, YES, the mushroom has impressive antiviral properties. 

How much Reishi mushroom can I take per day? 

The amount of reishi mushroom you can take daily varies with the type and form you are taking. 1-1.5g of reishi powder or 1.5-9g of crude dried reishi mushroom daily should give you the appropriate daily quantity. 

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A Final Word From Wellness Nova

Reishi mushroom is one of the most popular mushrooms that offer high medicinal value. 

It has three basic compounds (triterpenoids, polysaccharides, and peptidoglycan) that enhance its beneficial health effect. 

It is mainly used to promote better sleep, alleviate stress, and diminish stress in the body. It can also have a positive effect on overall well-being.